Operation Velo
Actor - Cyclist Jack Scalia to ride from Seattle to San Diego in a 1500 mile
group fundraising ride. Cycling with your heart and Hollywood for a great cause.

On July 11th during the tour de France a press conference was held at a one
of Southern California's posh Italian restaurants I'l Forniao. The Press
conference was called by Jack Scalia to announce his intention of a fund raising
effort in support of wounded American troops with in a 15 day ride starting on
September 24th down the 1500 miles of the scenic Pacific Coast Highway
from Seattle, Washington to San Diego, California.

Jack Scalia lays out the goals for Operation Velo for the assembled press.

Scalia hopes to inspire others to get involved as he raises awareness and
funding for the severely injured troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. During
Operation American Spirit' s inaugural event beginning September 24, Cyclists
are encouraged to collect pledges and ride with the actor/cyclist in the ride,
who knows what other Hollywood/Cyclists will join the parade down the Pacific
Coast. Operation Velo will also be organizing fundraising events in cities along
the route, an on-line auction, golf tournament later this year; and even the
chance to win Jack's well worn bike after the ride.

Cyclists will be able to join up at any point during the fundraising ride
with Jack and other actors and celebrities for one or more legs of the route as
they make the jaunt from Seattle next month. There will also be events along the
way

Left to right, Jack Kemp, Jack Scalia, John Wordin and Edra Bixseth.

Among those on hand to support Jack, with the kick off press event in were
Edra Blixseth, who organized major fundraisers for 9-11 families and Katrina
victims raising more than $175 million total, soldiers Mike McNaughton, Ryan
Kelly, and Heath Calhoun, former California Congressman Jack Kemp, former pro
rider and Jack's cycling coach John Wordin and Olympic gold medalist Quincy
Watts.

Jack Kemp pledged to support the effort with a cash donation and
appropriately with a 13 year professional football veteran, 4 tickets for the
Super Bowl to be auctioned later. Kemp commented he was proud and felt it was
his duty to help the wounded veterans rebuild their lives in any way he could.

Actor Mike Vogel one of the many Hollywood celebrities to support Operation Velo

The very fit 57 year old veteran actor and producer, in an interview before
the presentation said the inspiration came for project came to him during a
morning indoor spinning session on his bike. Scalia commented, “Our nation has
asked our soldiers and their families to make sacrifices and they have... now it
is our turn, as Americans, to step up and help them when they need it. I decided
that something ought to be done to help and made up my mind while I was riding
that morning that I could do something about it."

The actor started his working life as an athlete as a pitcher with the
Montreal Expos. His career ended abruptly after a career ending shoulder injury;
but he continued to be active as an athlete running marathons and later
triathlons. Later the popular actor took up spinning and in the last several
months taken his legs to the road to train for the long ride to San Diego; he
looks fit enough for the ride at the moment to do the 100 miles a day required
and may be hard to keep up with along the way. Jack spoke with a quiet
excitement as he talked about his 30 mph training sessions behind former pro
rider John Wordin. Currently he is working on his skills riding in the peloton
in group rides near his home.

Scalia was quick to make the point that the effort had nothing to do with
politics commenting, this isn't about politics its about helping the men who we
asked to go in harms way and to help make them whole and help them return to an
active life. Since the beginning of the project Jack said, he was pleased to
have the support of good people on all sides of the political spectrum.

Scalia's goal with Operation Velo
hopes to raise up to $50 million dollars over the next few years. "Our mission
is to help make a difference in the lives of soldiers and their families by
providing support and funding during and after rehabilitation including ongoing
programs, mentoring, scholarships, job and trade assistance, home modification,
and activities and outings to improve morale." The money will be
distributed through grants to groups working to support the return of injured
veterans to an active life.

Quincy Watts, Robert "BJ" Jackson, Donny Daughenbaugh and Mike Vogel

Veterans Robert "BJ" Jackson going by the nickname of "stubs" and Donny
Daughenbaugh were on hand as representatives of
www.saluteheroes.org that runs
programs to support the injured back to a life of activity. Both are
inspirational examples of what can be accomplished as both faced life changing
injuries and both have returned to a full life,

On August 7, 2003, his first day off in over a month, the Humvee that B.J.
was driving through the city of Baghdad, hit a landmine. After being stabilized,
B.J. was sent to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, TX to begin
treatment for severe burns and the loss of both legs below the knees.

B.J. joined the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes in 2004 as a National
Spokesperson. While he now jokes that he'll probably never have a career in
roofing again, he is able to inspire other wounded services members with his
belief that no matter what the circumstance may be, there are no limits to what
a person can do. Currently, B.J. lives in Iowa with his wife, Abby, and their
three children.

The Soldiers Independence Fund has been established through the Fitness
Challenge Foundation (501C3) to provide for the needs of military members and
their families who have suffered significant injuries as a result of combat.
The Fitness Challenge Foundation is teaming up with Jack because mobility is key
to the quality of one’s life. It is essential to the mental and physical fitness
and health of any individual.

Mission Statement To help make a difference in the lives of soldiers and their families by
providing support and funding during and after rehabilitation in ways that teach
them self-sufficiency.

Scalia departs Sept. 24 from Seattle and plans to arrive in San Diego on Oct.
7, with stops at military bases and VA hospitals along the way.
September 24 - Day 1 Seattle to Centralia - Washington
September 25 - Day 2 Centralia to Portland Oregon
September 26 - Day 3 Portland to Monroe
September 27- Day 4 Monroe to Reedsport
September 28 - Day 5 Coos Bay to Brookings
September 29 - Day 6 Brookings to Arcata - California
September 30 - Day 7 Eureka to Ft. Bragg
October 1- Day 8 Ft. Bragg to Santa Rosa
October 2 - Day 9 San Francisco to Castroville
October 3 - Day 10 Monterey to San Luis Obispo
October 4 - Day 11 San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara
October 5 - Day 12 Santa Barbara to Westwood
October 6 - Day 13 Westwood to Anaheim
October 7 - Day 14 Anaheim to San Diego